Derailment Confirmed Non-Hazardous at CSX Yard

June 18, 2014

Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 12:47 p.m. the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) responded to a report of three tank cars being derailed at the CSX rail yard located at 7801 Almonaster Blvd. The first of nine NOFD units carrying twenty-four firefighters arrived on the scene at 12:55 p.m. After establishing a safe perimeter around the derailed cars, NOFD Hazardous Materials personnel helped confirm that all three cars were empty. One car did contain residue of molten phenol (a flammable, corrosive, and toxic acid), but there was no rupture of the cars involved and the derailment posed no hazard to the public or responding NOFD personnel. CSX is currently attempting to upright the empty cars, which they believe should be completed this afternoon. All responding NOFD companies were back in service by 1:36 p.m., and there are no NOFD personnel remaining on the scene.